Alfred graham reed



i l Letters PateatNo.'1Q5,368, datedvluly 12, 1870.

i IMPROVEMENT :NicoRPsn-.PRESERWNG c esns.

, The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making pax-r. cf the sama I, ALFRED GRAHAM REED, M. 1).,0r Philadelcases or boxes arranged adjacent to the body;l and 'My invention consists-,

` l First, of a case" having a detachable toporY lid,

from which `are'lsuspended two 4detachable boxes, containing the ice `or freezing mixture, said boxes` extending below the top and into the casket, havi ing their lower ends so'shaped'as to coliform somewhat to the form of the `body, and `being so secured to the cover that they maybe withdrawn separately through `suitable, openings.

, l Seeondly,`of a lidor -.eover jto which the saiddetachable boxesware fitted', and at the under -side of which are flanges inclcsing the sides of the casket, in

combination withdevices by which the lid can be adjusted and secured. after adjustment, so that the lid can be raised or lowered, to bring the boxes nearer to or move them farther from the body without affording any opening for the'passage of air between the lid and the casket.

`Description of theaficcomprmyng Draiag.

, `Figure 1 is a perspective `View of my improved corpse-preservingcase, with one side of the saine rci'ncved to show the interior;V

Figure .2, a vertical section of the same Figure 3, a transverse vertical section;

l Figure 4, a perspeetiveviewof one of the detach` `able vessels for containing the freezing mixture; and

Figures 5 and 6, sectional views of part of the case drawn to an enlarged scale.

General Description.

" The body A of the ease consists of a wooden shell,

a., of the` form, or approximating to the form `illustrated in the drawing; and `thisbody has on its sides, ends, `and bottom, a double ,lining, composed, in t-hc present instance, of thin wood, 11,9a`nd sheet metal, c,

therebeing a narrow air space between theV shell a and `intermediate lining b, and between the latter and the `lining c. i

The undersideof theeoverB is edged with coin- `paratively deep vertical anges, e e, for tting snugly to and inclosing'the upper" edge ofthe body, one flange on each side of thesame, and in `this cover are two oblong openings,ibradmittingii'om above the i sheet-metal boxes D D, and to `the top ofeach box is secured a board, E, the projecting edgesff of which rest in therecessed edges of the opening in the cover B, as best observed on reference to iig. 6.

The mouth h of the box D 4extends upward into the boards D, for receiving the lower portion of the lid fi, the flanges of which rest iu the recessed edges of the opening in the board B. t

.It `is essential in carrying out my invention, that the boxes should be so arranged, in4 respect to the cover, that while the former, when in place are suspended from the latter, they can be withdrawn sepalately through the cover. It also essential that access shouldbe had to theV interior of the boxes from the outsidefof'the ease without disturbing the cover.

j In preserving large corpses, it becomes necessary to elevate the cover B, and to retain it in an elevated position. In order to do this, I arrange, on 'the under i side ofthe cover B, four blocks, F, two near each edge of the cover, the blocks being so `arrangedthat they can be moved Y nearer to or` further from the edge of the cover, and secured after adjustment. i

The under side of each block is so cut as to form a series of steps, one or other of' which rests upon lthe upper edge of the case, so that the height ofthe cover B, above the edge of the case, will depend upon the position to which the blocks are adjusted. t

The cover is furnished with a hinged lid, m, and beneath the latter there is a hinged-frame, containing a pane of glass, through which the face of the corpse may be observed. A hinged lid may also be arranged `near the opposite end of Vthe cover, to close anopening, through which access may be had to the interior of the case at the feet of' the corpse. er

The boxes D D are i so 'curved at their lower ends as to conform somewhat to theform of the corpse, and are of such Aa form that they will afford the greatest capacity for the freezing mixture, without interfering with the corpse.

This freezing mixture may be composed of ice and salt, and the water which accumulates in the boxes is permitted to 'escape from the lowest point of the same through a fiexible p'pc, attached to each box, in such a manner that it will not interfere with the ready withdrawal of the boxes from the case.

' yIt will be seen that one box may be withdrawn and replenished, (when it is not desired to introduce the freezing mixture through the mouth,) while the other remains and prevents too great an increase of temperature within the casket.

I have also found that when the lid has been ad-v justed tightly to its place, it is best to retain it l board D fits to the cover, and the lid i to the board, rubber or other peeking maybe used to render the joints as nearly air-tgnb as possible.

Claims.

2. The cover B, its fh ngese o, and detachable boxes D I), in combination with blocks F F, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification iu the presence of two subscribing witmesses.

ALFRED GRAHAM REED, M. D. Y

Witnesses HARRY SMIT, WM. A. STEEL. 

